adams



(No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet l. T. E. ADAMS.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP. No. 555,891. Patented Mar. 3,1896.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Modeli).

T E ADAMS ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

Patented Mar. 3

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

T. 13.. ADAMS. ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

No. 555,891. Y Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 4.

' T E ADAMS ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

wages as UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

THOMAS EDGAR ADAMS, oF CLEVELAND, 01110, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE'ADAMS-I'BAGNALL ELECTRIC COMPANY, or SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

srncrmcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. seasenaatea March a,1896.

- Application filed October 10, 1895- Serial No. 565,262. (No model.)

To all whom it hwy concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS EDGAR ADAMS, of Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric-Arc Lamps;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a lamps as heretoforeconstructed there has been an annoying chattering when the lamps werestarted, due to the sudden and repeated making and breaking of thecircuit during the period necessary for the carbon points to be.- comesufliciently heated to maintain the norinal are.

His the object of my invention to provide an alternating-currentarc lampwith means whereby to prevent the chattering incident to the starting ofsuch lamps as they have heretofore been constructed.

A further object is to provide simple and efficient means whereby-tocause the carbon points to be sufficiently heated to maintain a normalare before such are shall have been formed. v r

A further object is to so construct an alterhating-current arc lamp thatwhen current enters the lamp a small are will be first formed betweenthe carbon points and the separation of the carbons retardedsufficiently to cause their points to be properly heated to maintain thesubsequently-formed normal are.

A further object is to so construct an arc lamp as to prevent anabnormal rise of current.

A further object is to produce an arc lamp which shall be simple inconstruction and effectual in all respects in the performance of itsfunctions.

\Vith these objects in View the invention consists in the combination,with a magnet and the carbons, of a pivoted lever connected with thearmature of said magnet and with the carbons and a dash-pot connectedwith said lever, said dash-pot being so constructed as to first permit afree movement of the lever, then retard the movement of the lever,

and then permit its free movement whereby to retard the separation ofthe carbons and 5 then permit them to separate sufiiciently to form anormal are. r

' The invention also consists in the combination, with theseparating-magnet and the carbons of an arc lamp, of a pivoted lever, aspring connection between said lever and the armature of the magnet, aconnection between the lever and the carbons, and a dash-pot connectedwith said lever.

.The invention also consists in the combination, with aseparating-magnet and the carbons of an arc lamp, of a pivoted leverconnected with the carbons, and a spring-lever secured to the pivotedend of the pivoted 1ever and connected with the armature of the magnet;and the invention also consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafterset forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of my improvedlamp with the casing open and the cap of the casing partly broken away.Figs. 2, 2 and 2 are views of the clutch. Figs. 3 and 3 are detail viewsof the cross-head and parts attached thereto. Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional View of the lamp. Fig. 4 is a view of the spring 10. Fig. 5 isa view showing the lower portion of the lamp. Fig. 6 is a detail view ofthe sparkarrestcr.

A represents the lamp-casing, made preferably'of cast metal, andcomprises a base or floor (1-, sides I), made in sections hingedtogether and having flanges b secured to the base or floor, and a cap 0secured to the upper ends'of the side sections b.

A magnet or solenoid B is disposed within the casing and depends fromthe cap 0, to which it is secured, said cap having a seat against whichthe upper head of the spool rests.

The heads of the magnet spool or frame are constructed preferably ofwood or similar material which is not liable to become unduly heated.The upper head, (I, of the spool is made with a central conical hole (P,the smaller end of which is coincident with the upper face of said head(1. A screw (Z is passed .thrdugh the hole d (from inside the coil) sothat its head will rest in the said conical hole and its body projectbeyond the head d of the spool. The screw (1 is passed through a hole inthe cap of the lamp and provided on its free end with a suitable nut d.The heads (Ze of the spool are made with perforated ears (1 e for theaccommodation of bolts 1 1, which serve to secure a plate 2 to the underface of the lower head, 6, of the spool. One end of the plate 2 isenlarged and made to form an inverted-U-shaped yoke between thedepending arms 3, of which a short shaft 4 is pivotally mounted. -Alever 5 is secured to the short shaft 4 and projects horizontallytherefrom, said lever terminating at a point near the opposite wall ofthe casing,where it is pivotally connected with the rod 6 of a piston 7.The piston 7 enters a dash-pot 8 and the latter is pivotally connectedwith an arm 9 secured to the upperhead of the magnet-spool. The upperportion of the dash-pot is made slightly larger than the lower end, andat a point somewhat above said lower end a series of small holes 9 ismade in the wall of the dash-pot. Thus when the piston moves upwardlywithin the dash-pot it will at first meet with little, if any,resistance, owing to the escape of air through the holes; but when thepiston reaches and passes these holes, which are in the smaller portionof the dashpot, considerable resistance will be oifered to the movementof the piston. lVhen, however, the piston reaches the enlarged upperportion of the dash-pot, no further resistance will be offered to itsprogress and it will quickly complete its upward movement. Thesemechanical operations are of great importance in the electricaloperation of the lamp, especially when starting, as will be hereinafterfully explained.

A long-range spring-arm 10, preferably larger at one end than at theother, is secured at its larger end to the shaft 4 of lever 5 and a atits smaller end to the core B of the solenoid, the movements of the coreBbeing thus transmitted to the lever through the medium of the saidlong-range spring arm or lever 10. The upward movement of the lever 5will be limited by the core B and the dash-pot, and the downwardmovement of said lever will be limited by a screw 11 at the lower end ofan arm 12, the latter being supported from the plate 2.

A bracket 12 is secured to the cap 0 at one side thereof and made with abinding-post 13 for the reception of one of the leading-inwires of thelamp. A hood or frame 14 is made integral with the bracket 12, and atone end has 'a perforated enlargement 15 for the reception of the upperend of a guide-tube 16, the lower end of said guide-tube being fastenedto a plate 17, secured to but insulated from the lamp-floor. A guide-rod18 is secured at its upper end to the bracket 12,

passes through the plate 17, and at its lower 2 end is electricallyconnected with the lamparm 0. Between said guide tube androd across-head 19 is disposed, said cross-head havin g rollers 20 mountedthereon to run on said guide tube and rod.

An arm 21 is secured to the cross-head and is effectually insulatedtherefrom, preferably by means of non-combustible material 22, such asmica. The arm 21 projects laterally from the cross-head and is providedat its free end with cars 23, between which the upper-carbon holder 24is pivotally connected. In orderto permit the cross-head 19 to movefreely between its guides without binding, said cross-head is providedwith a weight 25 at the opposite side thereof from the arm 22, adaptedto counterbalance said arm and parts carried thereby.

The upper-carbon holder is.connected, by means of aflexible cable 26,with one end of the coil of the solenoid, and the other end of said coilis connected with a binder 27, which latter is also adapted for thereception of the plus leading-in wire.

The arm'O of the lamp is secured to and insulated from t-he base of thelamp-frame and is made throughout the major portion of its length in theform of a flat hollow shield 29, which communicates at its upper endwith an elongated slot in the plate 17. Through this slot and intothehollow shield a clutchblade 31 projects, the upper end of saidclutchblade being secured to the cross-head. The lower end of the clutchblade is provided with a roller 31, adapted to roll within the shield29.

A rod 32 is located in the guide-tube 16 and projects downwardly througha portion of the lamp-arm. To the upper end of this rod a chain 33 orother flexible device is connected and passes up over a pulley 34,mounted in the hood 14. From the pulley 34 the chain is extendeddownwardly and connected to the cross-head 19.

The. lamp arm 0 is made with parallel flanges 35,havinginwardly-projecting guideribs 36, which enter grooves made in theopposite faces of a sliding bracket 37, the latter being secured to thelower end of the rod 32. The bracket 37 is made with anoutwardly-projecting flattened arm 38, to which the lower carbon holder39 is connected. Above the lower-carbon holder a carbon-guide 40 issecured to the arm of the lamp, or, more strictlyspeaking, to a lugprojecting from the shield 29.

The globe-holder 41, with attached ash-receiver 42, is removablyconnected with the lower end 'of the lamp-arm. For this purpose theglobe-holdcr is made with inwardlyprojecting ears 43, to which asocket-piece 44 is secured and adapted to receive the lower end of thelamp-arm and lie flat against the rear face thereof. The socket-piece orcasting 44 is made with hooks 45 adapted to engage lugs 46 on thelamp-arm, and thus sup- ICC port the globe-holder on said arm. Thesocket-piece 44 is preferably insulated from the globe-holder, and thelatter is prevented from accidental displacement from the lugs globe;

46 by means of a bar 47, which is connected to the lamp-arm at one endand at the other end bears on'the socket-piece 44. A globe 49is'supported in the globe-holder, and the space between the top of theglobe and the bottom of the lamp-casing is closed by wire netting, whichserves as a spark-arrester 49 Thetframe of the spark-arrester iscomposed of two sheet-metal, strips 49 49, secured to the edges of thewire-netting, the strip 49 being made wider than the strip 49 andadapted to rest on the globe, said strip 49 having a scalloped orotherwise decorated lower edge .which gives a finish to the top of theOne end of the spark-arrester is made with a lip 49 to overlap the otherend. The strip 49 is made at one end with an elongated slot 49, throughwhich a screw 49 on the other end of said strip passes. A thumb-nut 49is placed on the end of this screw and made to bear on the end of thestrip 49. Thus the spark-arrester can be readily adjusted to properlyfit the globe, and can be secured at a any desired adjustment.

From the construction and arrangement of parts above described it willbe seen that the upper-carbon holder is electrically connected with thecoil of the solenoid, which latter is connected with the plus leading-inwire, and that the lower-carbon holder is electrically connected withthe minus terminal of the lamp through the lower-carbon holder, rod 32,chain 33 to hood 14, also through lamp-arm, guide rod and tube, plate17, cross-head, flexiblemechanical connection between crosshead and rod32. The lower carbon holder is connected with the lamp-arm by means of aflexible conductor e An adjustable rod 48 is connected at one end to thelever 5 at a point in proximity to its fulcrum, and at the lower endsaid rod is connected with a clutch 49 adapted to grasp the clutch-blade31, so that when the lever 5 is raised the clutch-blade will also beraised, resulting in the separation of the carbons, the upper carbonmoving upwardly and the lower carbon moving downwardly,

The clutch 49 comprises two jaws 50 51, having flat faces adapted toengage the respective faces of the clutch-blade and an opcrating-lever52. The jaw 50 is made with parallel arms 53, between which the jaw. 51is disposed, and these arms terminate in curved downward extensions 54.Each arm 53 is made with a downwardly-projecting tooth 55 which areengaged by similar teeth 56 on the lever 52, whereby to form a fulcrumfor said lever. The lever 52 is made with a yoke 57 which projectsforwardly and loosely embraces the jaws 50 51, the free end of said yokebeing curved upwardly and made with a hole 58 for the attachment of therod 48.

j The curved extensions 54 of the jaw embrace the rear end of the yokeand prevent the displacement of the lever 52. The lever 52 is made witha long arm 59 adapted to engage an insulated stop 60 on the lamp flooror base, and at the inner end of this arm a recess 61 is made in theupper face thereof for the accommodation of a lug 62 projecting from theback of the jaw 51. A screw 63 is inserted in the rear face of the jaw51, and so as to be disposed under the inner end of the arm. 59, saidlug and screw serving to prevent vertical displacement of said jaw 51.

The extreme inner end of the arm 59 of the lever 52 bears against therear face of the jaw 51 between the lug 62 and screw 63 and below thefulcrum of said lever on the arms 53 of jaw 50. From this constructionand arrangement of parts it will be seen thatwhen the lever 5 moves upthe rod 48 will pull on the yoke end of lever 52 and cause the latter toturn on its fulcrum and force the jaws tightly against the blade 31, soas to clutch the same, a continued upwardly movement of said lever 5causing the clutch-blade to be raised and the carbons separated in anobvious manner. When the lever 5 moves downwardly the clutch blade andclutch will move downwardly also, and when theyhave moved downwardlysufficiently to permit the arm 59 of lever 52 to engage the stop 60 onthe lampfloor the arm 59 of lever 52 will be raised and the clutch-bladereleased from the clutch to permit the carbons to feed.

As above stated, the-most objectionable feature in the operation of anarc lamp with an alternating current is the annoying chattering causedwhen the lamp is started, and this chattering is due to the repeatedbreaking and making of the circuit between the carbons during the timethe points of the carbons arebecoming sufficientlyheated to insure themaintenance of the normal arc. It is known that before the normal arccan be maintained, when an alternating current is employed, the carbonpoints must be sufiiciently heated to throw a certain amount ofVolatilized carbon. In alternating-current arc lamps the separatingsolenoid or magnet is included in series in a normally-closed circuitwith the carbons, so that when the current first enters the lamp theresistance is so low that a heavy current passes through the solenoid ormagnet and causes it to become so strong as to violently separate thecarbons to the full extent for a normal arc and before the points of thecarbons can have possibly become sufliciently heated to insure themaintenance of the normal arc. The are is therefore ruptured and thecircuit instantly broken, thus depriving the solenoid of its energy andpermitting the carbons to again come together and close the circuitthrough the solenoid, the

result of which is to again violently separate the carbons. Theseoperations, with the ac companying chatter, will continue until thetemperature of the points of the carbons shall have reached such adegree as will cause them to throw off sufficient volatilized carbon toinsure the maintenance of the normal arc. By my improvements I avoidthese continuous violent separations of the consequent breaking ofthecircuit with accompanying chatter, and this result I accomplish bycausing a small preliminary are to be formed and maintained for asufficient length of time to properly heat the carbon points to insurethe maintenance of the subsequently-formed normal are. The action of theparts in the performance of these functions is as follows:

When no current is passing through the lamp the parts assume thepositions shown in Fig. 1, with the carbons incontact with each other.When the current enters the lamp, the solenoid will be energized toraise its core, which movement of the core will be transmitted to thelever 5 through the medium of the long-range spring 10. The free upwardmovement of the lever 5 will be permitted until the piston of thedash-pot reaches the perforations in the latter, during which move mentof said lever the carbons will be slightly separated, so as to form asmall preliminary are between them. As soon as the piston 7 reaches theperforations in the dash-pot, the upward movement of the lever 5 and theseparation of the carbons will be retarded, and this retarded movementof the lever and carbons will continue until the piston 7 passes abovethe smaller portion of the dash-pot 8, during which time the preliminaryare is being maintained and the carbon points heating to a sufficientdegree to maintain a normal are. As soon as the piston 7 reaches theenlarged upper end of the dash-pot 8, the resistance against its furtherupward movement will be removed and it will move freely upwardly,permitting the lever 5 to be freely raised by the action of thesolenoid, acting through the long-range spring 10, and the carbons to beseparated sufficiently to form a normal are which will be maintained.The enlarged port-ion of the dash-pot is of sufficient extent to permita free movement of the piston up anddown to allow the proper movementsof the lever 5 for feeding the carbons.

An advantage gained by having the core or armature attached to themechanism through a proper range-spring of proper strength is theprevention of an abnormal rise of current,

as the core having drawn up into the spool forms an eifectualchoking-coil and the current cannot rise much above normal. The actioncontinues while the arc is slowly forniing its proper resistance. a

By a proper proportioningof the strength and range of the lever-sprin g10 in connection with the dash-pot that will first allow a short freemovement of the carbons, then retard their movement for a short periodand again permit perfect freedom, a complete and perfect starting of anal ernating lamp without the usual chattering is secured.

My improvements are comparatively simple in construction and efieetualin all respects in the performance of their functions.

Various slight changes might be made in the details of construction ofmy invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting itsscope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details ofconstruction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLett-ers Patent, is

1. In an arc lamp, the combination with a separating-magnet and thecarbons, of a p'ivoted lever connected with the carbons and with thearmature of the magnet, and a dashpot, the piston of which is connectedwith the armature of said lever said dash-pot being so constructed andarranged as to first permit a free movement of the lever to cause theformation of a small are between the carbons; then retard the movementof the lever whereby to maintain said small are for ashort period, andthen permit the free movement of the lever whereby to allow the carbonsto be separated sufficiently to form a normal are, substantially as setforth.

2. In an arc lamp, the combination with a separating-magnet and thecarbons, of a pivoted lever connected with the armature of the magnetand with the carbons and a dashpot having its piston connected with thelever, the bore of said dash-pot being larger at one end than at theother, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an arc lamp, the combination with the separating-magnet and thecarbons, of a pivoted lever connected with the armature of the magnetandwith the carbons, and a dashpot having its piston connected with saidlever, said dash-pot having a bore larger at one end than at the otherand having perforations in its smaller part, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

4. In an arc lamp, the combination with a separating-magnet and thecarbons, of a lever pivoted at one end and connected with the carbons,and a long-range spring secured at one end to the pivoted end of thelever and connected at the other end to the armature of the magnet,substantially as set forth.

5. In an arc lamp, the combination with a separating-magnet and thecarbons, of a pivoted lever connected with the carbons, and a flatspring secured at one end to the pivoted end of the lever and connectedat the other end to the armature of the magnet, substantially as setforth.

6. In an arc lamp, the combination with the separating-magnet and thecarbons, of a plate secured to the spool of the magnet and having arms,a shaft mounted between said arms, a lever secured to said shaft andconnected with the carbons, and a spring also secured to said shaft andconnected with the armature of the magnet, substantially as set forth.

7. In an arc lamp, the combination with a IIO separating-magnet and thecarbons, of an oscillatory shaft, a lever secured to said shaft, adash-pot having its piston connected with the free end of said lever,and aspring secured at one end to said shaft and connected at itsotherend with the armature of the magnet, substantially as set forth.

8. In an arc lamp, the combination with a casing, of a magnet having awooden headed spool secured to said casing, a plate secured to saidwooden spool, a lever. pivotally supported bysaid plate, having ayielding connection between the pivoted end of said lever and thearmature of the magnet, and a connection between said lever and thecarbons of the lamp, substantially as set forth.

9. In an arc lamp, the combination with a frame or casing having a holein its top, of a separating-magnet, the upper head of the spool of saidmagnet having a conical hole, and a screw having its head disposedinsaid conical hole and its body-portion projecting through said hole inthe top 0f the casing, andla nut on said screw, substantially as set ort1.

10. In an arc lamp, the combination i with a guide-tube and a guide-rod,connectedi'at one end with the negative terminal of the lamp and a plateconnected with their other ends, of a sliding cross-head disposedbetween said tube and rod, anarm secured to and insulated from thecross-head, an upper-carbon holder connected to said arm and with thepositive terminal of the lamp and a lower-carbon holder connected withthe cross-head, substantially as set forth.

11. In an arc lamp, the combination with a hood connected with thenegative terminal of the lamp, of a guide-tube and a guide-rod securedto said hood, a sliding cross-head between said tube and rod, anupper-carbon holder carried by but insulated from thecross-head, a rodinthe tube, a lower-carbon holder attached to said rod, a pulley mountedin said hood and a chain connected to the rod in-the guide-tube and tothe cross-head and passing over said pulley, substantially as set forth.j I

12. In an arc lamp, the combination with a casing and vertical guidestherein, of a sliding cross-head between said guides, alaterally-projecting arm secured to but insulated sulatedfrom thecross-head for carrying the ing adapted to engage the lugs on thelamparm, substantially asset forth.

15. In an arc lamp the combination with a casing and a lamp-arm secured'thereto, and having lugs near its lower end, of aglobeholder havinginwardly-projecting ears, a

socket or casting secured to and insulated from said ears and adapted toreceive the lamp-arm, hooks on said socket or casting adapted toengagethe lugs on the lamp-arm and a bar attached to the lamp-arm andadapted to prevent accidental displacement of the globe-holder,substantially as set forth.

16. In an arc lamp, the combination with a casing, and guides, therein,a sliding crosshead between said guides, and an upper and a lower carbonholder connected with said cross-head, of a hollow, flat lamp-arm,aclutchblade secured to the cross-head and entering said arm, a rollermounted in the end of said set forth. v

17. In a clutch,the combination with the jaws, of arms projecting fromone jaw, and a lever having its fulcrum on said arms and having bearingbelow its fulcrum against the other jaw, substantially as set forth.

18. In a clutch, the combination with two jaws, of armson one of saidjaws adapted to receive the other jaw between them, a lever adapted-tobear against the last-mentioned jaw, said lever having a yoke to embraceboth of said jaws and having its fulcrum on clutch-blade, and a clutch,substantially as v too said arms above the.bearing of said leveragainst'the jaw, substantially as set forth.

19. In a clutch the combination with two jaws, of arms projecting fromone jaw and adapted to receive the other jaw between them, teethprojecting from said arms, a lever adapted to embrace said jaws and bearagainst one ofthem, and teeth or projections on the lever adapted tobear against the teeth on said arms, substantially as set forth.

' 20. In a clutch the combination with two.

jaws, of arms projecting from one of said jaws and embracing the otherjaw, said arms having. curved extensions and a lever adapted to embraceboth of said jaws and bear against one of them, said lever having itsfulcrum v on said arms and said curved extensions serv-, ing to preventdisplacementof said lever, sub-' stantially as set forth.

21. In a clutch the combination with two- I jaws, of arms proj e'ctin gfrom one of said jaws I u q o and embracing the other, sald arms havlngcurved extensions, and a lever having one end made to form a yoke toembrace sald aws and bear against one of them, said curved extensionsbeing disposed behind said yoke to prevent the displacement of thelever, substantially as set forth.

22. In a clutch, the combination with two jaws,0f arms projecting fromone of said jaws, a lever fulcrumed on said arms, one end of said leverbeing made to form a yoke to embrace the jaws and the other end beingmade in the form of a long arm, the inner end of which engages one ofsaid jaws, substantially as set forth.

. 23. In a clutch, the combination with two jaws, one of said jawshaving arms, of a lug on the back of the other jaw and a lever fulcrumedon said arms and bearing against said last-mentioned jaw at the base ofthe lug thereon, substantially as set forth.

24. In a clutch, the combination with two jaws, one having arms, of alug and a screw on the back of the other jaw, and a lever having a yoketo embrace said jaws and having a fulcrum on said arms, said lever alsohaving a bearing against the last-mentioned jaw between said lug andscrew, substantially as set forth.

25. In an arc lamp, the combination with the lamp casing and globe, of aspark-arrester between said casing and globe, the frame of saidspark-arrester being slotted, a screw passing through said slot and athumbnut on said screw, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS EDGAR ADAMS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. POST,- B. F. WHITMAN.

